Charleroi Area students to stage spring theater showcase

By TAYLOR BROWN
Senior Reporter
tbrown@yourmvi.com
More Mon Valley schools have been awarded funding to enhance school safety.
Last week, more than $150 million in School Safety Grants were approved, including money to McKeesport and Elizabeth Forward area school districts and McKeesport Area CTC.
Additionally, Charleroi Area, California, California Academy of Learning Charter School, Mon Valley Career and Technology Center and Ringgold in Washington County and Belle Vernon Area and Monessen school districts in Westmoreland County also were successful in their grant applications.
Pennsylvania’s School Safety and Security Grant Program was originally established in 2018 to provide school entities money to be safer places for students, staff and visitors.
It is overseen by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, School Safety and Security Committee.
Meritorious Grants ranging from $30,000 to $45,000, Mental Health Grants ranging from $70,000 to $100,000, competitive safety grants and non competitive mental health grants were available.
Funding can be used to address safety and security through security assessments, violence prevention and all-hazards plans.
The California Academy of Learning received a $70,000 meritorious grant.
California Area received $30,000 in meritorious grants and $111,519 in mental health grants.
Charleroi Area was also successful and will receive $35,000 in meritorious funds, $117,326 in mental health funds and $206,275 in competitive grant funds.
Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said administrators will meet Thursday to discuss how to best use the funds.
Ringgold was also successful in three categories and will receive $40,000, $134,266 and $312,501 respectively.
The Mon Valley CTC received $70,000 in mental health funds.
In Westmoreland County, BVA and Monessen both received meritorious and mental health funds.
BVA will use $40,000 in meritorious funds and $130,127 in mental health funds to help its students.
In Monessen, a total of $138,744 in grant money will be used for projects and programs.
It was previously announced that Allegheny County school districts including Elizabeth Forward ($169,102), McKeesport Area ($539,407) and McKeesport Area Technical Center ($70,000) had received funding through the program. in mental health funds.
Certain nonpublic schools also received funding boosts for targeted school safety including $65,000 to St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School in North Belle Vernon.